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The Windy City isn't quite ready for Phoebe Somerville — the outrageous, curvaceous New York knockout who has just inherited the Chicago Stars football team. And Phoebe is definitely not prepared for the Stars' head coach Dan Celebow, a sexist jock taskmaster with a one-track mind. Celebow is everything Phoebe abhors. And the sexy new boss is everything Dan despises — a meddling bimbo who doesn't know a pigskin from a pitcher's mound.
So why is he drawn to the shameless sexpot like a heat-seeking missile? And why does the coach's good ol' boy charm leave cosmopolitan Phoebe feeling awkward, tongue-tied....and ready to fight?
The sexy, heartwarming, and hilarious "prequel" to Susan Elizabeth Phillip's This Heart of Mine — her sensational bestsellng blockbuster — It Had To Be You is an enchanting story of two stubborn people who believe in playing for keeps.
Susan Elizabeth Phillips is the only four-time recipient of the Romance Writers of America's prestigious Favorite Book of the Year Award. A resident of the Chicago suburbs, Phillips is also a hiker, a gardener, a reader, a wife, and the mother of two grown sons.
Such sass is Phillips' calling card, and since her 1994 football romance It Had to Be You, she’s been stitching threads of humor into her romance novels.
"I'm not a particularly funny person in person. I can't tell jokes, but it just seems like it happened when I started to write," she told The Romance Reader in 1997. "It wasn't anything that was planned. I'm a very intuitive writer; I just sort of let the characters talk to me, and they started saying funny things, so I wrote them down."
A schoolteacher until her first son was born, Phillips began writing in the early 1980s with her best friend and neighbor. The two were both regular readers and decided to try their hand at a book of their own, plotting their story during nightly bike rides with their toddlers in tow. They got the name of a publisher at Dell who liked the book and published it under the pen name Justine Cole.
Her friend moved into a legal career, but Phillips continued writing and publishing, this time under her own name. She released what she calls her "big books," titles like Fancy Pants and Honey Moon featuring Hollywood starlets and jet-setting London socialites.
Her stories, she has said, moved outside of the mainstream after that. She gives her romantic characters emotional wounds and personal difficulties that often impede their inevitable happy endings. But without such obstacles, there would be no story.
"I've grown increasingly interested in writing about family dynamics and much less interested in sticking a psychopath with a gun in any of my books," she said in an interview with the web site iVillage. "Technically, I've simply learned how to capitalize on my own distinctive voice and how to be a better storyteller."
The healing process that the characters go through is what makes the novels work. "Creative plotting adds sparkle, and entertaining, well-drawn secondary characters round out the novel, but it is the growing, healing relationship between the protagonists and how they finally form a family that touches the heartstrings and makes this contemporary romance an unforgettable read," the Library Journal wrote in a review of Phillips' 2000 book First Lady.
The dialogue, she has said, is also important. The exchanges in romance novels are satisfying to women who love to communicate, she told USA Today. "Women really like to talk. That's one of our processes. We talk to gather information. Women love the connection that comes from conversation," she said. "My husband says we broadcast. He thinks through things before he talks, but he says women just kind of broadcast until they zero in on what they want to say."
Phillips has also disputed the notion that romance novels are nothing more than books about "throbbing thighs." They aren't about sex, she told the Chicago Tribune in 1992, but are instead complicated fictions about women taking charge of their lives and being the stories' heroes.
"The woman always wins the man," she said, "and he always gets tamed in the end."
Though two of her books -- It Had to Be You and This Heart of Mine -- have football plots, Phillips doesn't consider herself much of a sports fan. "In my mind, if you don't have to wear mascara to do it, it doesn't count as recreation," she told Book Page.
Her family helps her keep the details straight. Husband Bill was her technical adviser on describing Dallie Beaudine's golf game in Fancy Pants, and son Zach's interest in knives, guns, and dead insects surfaced in Teddy, the son of the novel's leading lady. He also wrote and recorded a companion CD to her title This Heart of Mine, which is available from her web site.
Phoebe Somerville outraged everyone by bringing a French poodle and a Hungarian lover to her father's funeral. She sat at the gravesite like a fifties movie queen with the small white poodle perched in her lap and a pair of rhinestone-studded cat's-eye sunglasses shielding her eyes. It was difficult for the mourners to decide who looked more out of place — the perfectly clipped poodle sporting a pair of matching peach satin ear bows, Phoebe's unbelievably handsome Hungarian with his long, beaded ponytail, or Phoebe herself.
Phoebe's ash blond hair, artfully streaked with platinum, swooped down over one eye like Marilyn Monroe's in The Seven Year Itch. Her moist, full lips, painted a delicious shade of peony pink, were slightly parted as she gazed toward the shiny black casket that held what was left of Bert Somerville. She wore an ivory suit with a silky, quilted jacket, but the outrageous gold metallic bustier beneath was more appropriate to a rock concert than a funeral. And the slim skirt, belted with loops of gold chain (one of which sported a dangling fig leaf) was slit at the side to the middle of her shapely thigh.
This was the first time Phoebe had been back in Chicago since she'd ran away when she was eighteen, so only a few of the mourners present had ever met Bert Somerville's prodigal daughter. From the stories they'd heard, however, none of them were surprised that Bert had disinherited her. What father would want to pass on his estate to a daughter who'd been the mistress of a man more than forty years her senior, even if that man had been the noted Spanish painter, Arturo Flores? And then there was theembarrassment of the paintings. To someone like Bert Somerville, naked pictures were naked pictures, and the fact that the dozens of abstract nudes Flores had executed of Phoebe now graced the walls of museums all over the world hadn't softened his judgment.
Phoebe had a slender waist and slim, shapely legs, but her breasts and hips were plump and womanly, a throwback to an almost forgotten time when women had looked like women. She had a bad girl's body, the sort of body that, even at thirty-three, could just as well have been displayed with a staple through the navel as hanging on a museum wall. It was a bimbo's body — never mind that the brain inside was highly intelligent, since Phoebe was the sort of woman who was seldom judged by anything except appearances.
Her face wasn't any more conventional than her body. There was something off-kilter about the arrangement of her features, although it was difficult to say exactly what since her nose was straight, her mouth well formed, and her jaw strong. Perhaps it was the outrageously sexy tiny black mole that sat high on her cheekbone. Or maybe it was her eyes. Those who had seen them before she'd slipped on her rhinestone sunglasses had noted the way they tilted upward at the comers, too exotic, somehow, to fit with the rest of her face. Arturo Flores had frequently exaggerated those amber eyes, sometimes painting them larger than her hips, sometimes superimposing them over her wonderful breasts.
Throughout the funeral, Phoebe seemed cool and composed, despite the fact that the July air was heavy with humidity. Even the rushing waters of the nearby DuPage River, which ran through several of Chicago's western suburbs, didn't provide any relief from the heat. A dark green canopy shaded both the gravesite and the rows of chairs set up for the dignitaries in a semicircle around the black ebony casket, but the canopy wasn't large enough to shelter everyone attending, and much of the well-dressed crowd was standing in the sun, where they'd begun to wilt, not only from the humidity but also from the overpowering scent of nearly a hundred floral arrangements. Luckily, the ceremony had been short, and since there was no reception afterward, they could soon head for their favorite watering holes to cool off and secretly rejoice in the fact that Bert Somerville's number had come up instead of their own.
The shiny black casket rested above the ground on a green carpet that had been laid directly in front of the place where Phoebe was sitting between her fifteen-year-old half sister, Molly, and her cousin Reed Chandler. The polished lid held a star-shaped floral spray of white roses embellished with sky blue and gold ribbons, the colors of the Chicago Stars, the National Football League franchise Bert had bought ten years earlier.
When the ceremony ended, Phoebe cradled the white poodle in her arms and rose to her feet, stepping into a shaft of sunlight that sparked the gold metallic threads of her bustier and set the rhinestone frames of her cat's-eye sunglasses afire. The effect was unnecessarily dramatic for a woman who was already quite dramatic enough.
Reed Chandler, Bert's thirty-five-year-old nephew, got up from his chair next to her and walked over to place a flower on the casket. Phoebe's half sister Molly followed self-consciously. Reed gave every appearance of being grief-stricken, although it was an open secret that he would inherit his uncle's football team. Phoebe dutifully placed her own flower on her father's coffin and refused to let the old bitterness return. What was the use? She hadn't been able to win her father's love while he was alive, and now she could finally give up the effort...
Anonymous
Posted January 5, 2009
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While the rape was not current, it was a strong presence in the book. It made it difficult for me to read the book.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I really love this series! So if looking for a chic-lit book, read this series. In this book, I was disguisted with several actions Dan did...role playing with his ex wife as a 16 year old yesh! I cried with Phoebe as she dealt with her eotions about being raped. To me, having that much feelings towards fictional characters is the result of a captivating, well rounded author.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This author and novel is on several romance rec lists, so I had tried this one before the last time I looked to see what the genre had to offer and reread it because I'm working through a romance recommendation list. The heroine is supposedly someone smart who only pretends to be a bimbo--but I'm afraid she comes across as the real thing. Oh, and the hero, head coach at the football team she inherits, is another one of those obnoxious "alpha" males. Right after they have sex, since the heroine has a "reputation" he asks her if she has been tested for STDS. Smoooth... The book had some funny moments, was interesting in it's look at pro football, and kept me to the end, but the characters never really grew on me or convinced they had anything going for them beyond mutual lust. Part of the Chicago Stars series.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 17, 2012
The best book. Captured so many emotions in this book, as well as all her others. Susan is a top rate author.
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Posted April 9, 2012
Best story ever
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 5, 2012
I love almost all of SEP's books. This is my favorite, followed closely by Natural Born Charmer. I come back to these books time and time again.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.PeniA
Posted January 5, 2012
This series is an excellent blend of humor and romance with captivating character and a great story. From the first book to the last. One of my favorite authors over all.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Stacy25
Posted September 22, 2011
The characters were both annoying and I don't think they were compatible.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 16, 2011
I came across this book when I goodled a list of best romantic novels. Since then I have read almost all the books by this author including the entire Chicago Stars series (finished the whole series in less than 1 month-and I'm not a big reader!) I must say this is still my favorite book!! The story is great! The characters are great! The hot sizzling parts are great! Just love this book all around!! It takes a little while to start off, but when it does you just won't be able to put it down! If you are reading this, read no further and just buy this book!! Then go on to the rest of the Chicago Star series!! Just beware.. it's completely addicting!
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 8, 2010
Truly, you start to read and you can't stop. Completely addicting.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Yareth78
Posted April 26, 2010
This book was recommended to me by a friend. I started it on a Friday night and finished it Saturday afternoon! Definately a page turner and you won't want to put it down. Characters are exciting and will grab your attention. Some graphic sex scenes that will have you...well...let's just say you'd better have a cool drink near by. One scene of incest and rape is portrayed in the story so if you don't like to read about those types of things, this book isnt for you.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I enjoyed this book very much. It was funny and sexy. I laughed so had that I had tears running down my face. I have recommended and will re-read. I liked all the different charters. I want to get the rest of the series.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Saucygirl
Posted November 26, 2009
This is my first SEP book and it was really quite amazing. I started reading this with an open mind and through the first few chapters I was qustioning if I had the right book. But once it got into it a bit more the story line totally opened up and I just got sucked into it!! It was funny, sad, tension filled and emotional all at the same time. I really really enjoyed it and think I will continue to read SEP books!!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted October 18, 2009
This was the first SEP book I read and I loved it. I had never read a romantic comedy and after reading this, i have read almost all of her books. This is one of her best. The only thing i didn't like too much was the football scene at the end of the book. It felt like i was reading a movie script. But great read. You will love it.
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Posted August 31, 2009
I couldn't put this book down. I spent every spare minute I had reading it! I really loved the main character and her little sister. Plus, I love football, so I really couldn't get enough of this book!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.GwensMom
Posted August 18, 2009
This is a good window into emotional pain wrought by families' interactions however inaccurate the assessments may be (characterized by the main character) I would have liked to have seen some more insight developed by the lead however the theme of how a child can touch our lives was heartwarming and poignant.
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Posted May 30, 2009
This book is a back and forth banter-- following all of Phillips books. It is a quick, easy, go to the beach read. The playfulness between the characters keeps it fun. For those that need the romance, there is also, like always, a "steamy" scene.
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Posted May 30, 2009
heart warming, funny, and very entertaining
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Posted October 1, 2006
I am starting to love all her, Susan E. Phillips, books because they are funny also showing strong willed people pited against one another. She also writes with some true life sad parts of a persons life in her books. The books I have read of her are excellent. Eddie R.
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Posted May 16, 2006
I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed SEP's books. This one is one of the best, but it would hard to choose Best when all are so good. SEP can hit every emotional button you have and make you want to run right out and buy the next one! Can't say enough about the quality of her writing. I really can't choose one of her books, so read them all! I wouldn't part with one!
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Overview
The Windy City isn't quite ready for Phoebe Somerville — the outrageous, curvaceous New York knockout who has just inherited the Chicago Stars football team. And Phoebe is definitely not prepared for the Stars' head coach Dan Celebow, a sexist jock taskmaster with a one-track mind. Celebow is everything Phoebe abhors. And the sexy new boss is everything Dan despises — a meddling bimbo who doesn't know a pigskin from a pitcher's mound.
So why is he drawn to the shameless sexpot like a heat-seeking missile? And why does the coach's good ol' boy charm leave cosmopolitan Phoebe feeling awkward, tongue-tied....and ready to ...